Compare Rules

IFAF vs NFHS

AFirst Sport

IFAF

Flag Football

First Sport

Details

Players5-10

Settingoutdoor

Season2026 IFAF Flag Football Rules — international 5-on-5 ruleset for IFAF Flag Football World Championship + LA 2028 Olympic competition

CategoryTeam Sports

BSecond Sport

NFHS

Flag Football

Second Sport

Details

Players2-5

Settingoutdoor

Season2026 NFHS Flag Football Rules Book — high school sanctioned 5-on-5 girls' and boys' flag football across U.S. state associations

CategoryTeam Sports

Shared Topics

Different Rules

Shared Rules

Rule-by-Rule Comparison(11)

Down a Player

Different

IFAF

Ball-carrier is down when defender removes either hip flag; Knee-down, ball-out-of-bounds, or flag falls off naturally = play dead; No contact: no blocking, no diving, no tackling — flag-pull only

NFHS

Player is "down" when defender removes either hip flag (or back flag if used); No tackling, blocking, or contact — incidental contact penalty-free; intentional contact = flag

Game Length

Different

IFAF

Two 20-minute halves (running clock; clock-stops in final 2 minutes of each half); 2-minute half-time; OT: alternating possessions from 5-yard line

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Compare Rules

Rule-by-Rule Comparison(11)

Down a Player

Game Length

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Plays

Possession

Section 2: Equipment

Section 3: Playing Area

Section 4: Players & Officials

Section 5: Rules of Play

Section 6: Scoring

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

Section 8: Safety Considerations